Saudi women driving

Loujain al-Hathloul, who opposed the kingdom's past ban on women driving, is among several Saudi female activists who have been imprisoned since last year. Relatives say the women have been tortured.

The arrested women "could have been powerful ambassadors for the new Saudi Arabia. Instead, they are being branded as traitors," says Kristian Ulrichsen of Rice University.

Saudi Arabia requires all women to have a male guardian, even if that guardian is their own son. King Salman recently ordered a review of his country's guardianship rules.

The Associated Press reports that after years of refusing to review the kingdom's ban on female drivers, a key council now says that with restrictions, women could be allowed to drive.